Panoramic camera



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. FfDU-MKE. PANORAMIG CAMERA. v No. 549,504. Patented Nov. 12, 1895.

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P. P. DUMKE. PANORAMIG CAMERA.

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P. P. DUMKE- PANORAMIG CAMERA.

' Patented Nov. 12, 1895'.

ANDREW EYGRAHAM.PHUTO-UTMD.WASHINGTON DC UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

FRANK DUMKE, OF MILIVAUKEE, IVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WVILLIAM Iil. KIRK,OF SAME PLACE.

PANORAM IC CAM ERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,504, dated November12, 1895.

Application filed May '7, 1895. Serial No, 548,369. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK F. DUMKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State oflVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in PanoramicCameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in panoramic cameras; and itconsists in the matters hereinafter described, and set forth in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view. Fig. 9 is ahorizontal section drawn on line a; a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection drawn on line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a side view, and Fig. 5 across-section of one of the rollers, upon which a sheet of celluloid orso-called film is supportechremoved from its inclosing case, a similarroller being used at each of the front corners of the camera. Fig. 6represents one of the roller-supporting cases removed from the camera.Fig. 7 represents one of the rollersupporting cases removed from thecamera and thrown open 5 upon its hinges, disclosing to view one end ofthe film, the film-supporting roller, and the friction-bearing rollertherein. Fig. 8 represents a modified form of the roller-supporting caseshown in Fig. 1. Fig. Oisatop view of the mechanism for automaticallyoperating the folding doors or shutters of the hood by which the lightis obstructed. Fig. 10 represents the supporting-bars for the ends ofthe respective films. Fig. 11 represents the protruding ends of thefilms with the end supporting-bars locked together. Fig. 12 represents adoor for closing the aperture of the roller-supportin g case throughwhich the film is drawn from its roller.

Like parts are referred to by the same ref erence-letters throughout theseveral views.

In the drawings the stationary frame A, the lens-tube C, with its lenses(not shown) and its supporting-frame D, the hood E, the lensadjustingmechanism F, the vertical rod G, by which the lens and its supporting-frame are turned upon their pivotal bearing, and the operating-handleII are all constructed and arranged in their relative position to eachother and adapted to be operated in the ordinary manner.

The spaces between the hood E and the front wall I of the camera areclosed with flexible curtains J J, which are preferably formed of aseries of narrow strips of wood secured together by cloth or otherflexible material to which they are glued or otherwise affixed. Theinner ends of the curtains J J are permanently attached to the hood E,while their outer ends extend into the curved guideways K K, through andby which they are guided. in a circular course back through the frontwalls of the case toward the right and left into the interior of thecamera. One of the curtains J is forced by the movement of the hoodinward through one of the guideways K as the other is drawn outwardthrough the other guideway K, by which arrangement a separate receptaclelocated in front of the camera as heretofore made becomes unnecessary.

lleretofore it has been common to construct the curved rear wall of thecamera in one continuous slide, which, when desirous to reach the filmswithin, is necessarily removed from the camera. By my improvements suchrear wall is formed in two separate parts or slides L and M, each ofwhich is provided with separate grooves N N, whereby when desirous toreach the films one of said slides is moved past the other, thusexposing one-half of the films at a time.

Referring to Fig. 2, when desirous to open the space upon the right theslide M is moved beneath the slide L upon the left-hand side, and whendesirous to open the space upon the left-hand side, the slide L is movedtoward the right in its groove N, outside of the slide M, whereby itbecomes unnecessary to remove either of said slides from the camera.

I-Ieretofore it has been common to store the films in a separatereceptacle from the camera. By my present improvement the non-sensitivefilm 0 and the sensitive film P are provi ded with special receptaclestherefor in the camera. The non-sensitive film O is supported on theroller Q, while the sensitive film P, upon which the picture is taken,is supported upon the roller R. These rollers Q and R are each providedwith roller-sup porting cases S and T, so located that either of thefilms may be unrolled therefrom and drawn out through the semicircularguideway or groove U in rear of the hood, as desired. Preparatory tofocusing the lens for the picture the non-sensitive film O is firstdrawn out through said groove U, while the sensitive film P is left uponits roller. lVhen ready to take the picture, the non-sensitive film O isagain withdrawn from the groove and wound upon its roller, while thesensitive film P is simultaneously unwound from its roller and drawn outthrough the same supporting-groove from which the other film iswithdrawn. The rollers Q and R are simultaneously operated by turningtheknobs V V, which are connected therewith through the walls of thecase, whereby as either of said films is withdrawn and wound about itsroller the other is unwound and drawn out. The protruding ends of therespective films O and P are provided with vertical supporting-bars Aand B, which bars are provided with interlocking mechanism C, ofordinary construction, by which the ends of said films may, if desired,be locked together, thus enabling the operator to move the respectivefilms simultaneously.

To facilitate in unwinding the film Pfrom the roller R, an auxiliaryfriction bearingroller D is provided, which roller D is supported at itsrespective ends in movable spring actuated j ournal-bearings E E, and bywhich said roller D is kept in contact with the coils of said film P, bywhich as the film is being wound upon its supporting roller B saidfriction-roller D is permitted to move backward with each additionalcoil of the film, while it maintains a uniform pressure against it. Theprimary object of said auxiliary roller D is to aid in unwinding thefilm P from the roller R, which end is accomplished by turning saidroller D by the hand of the operator, the roller B being turned by theaction of the unwinding film. The roller D is provided at its protrudingend with a knob D, by which it is turned, when by the friction ofcontact of the roller D against said film P the same is drawn from theroller R and forced outward through its guideway or groove U. Toincrease the friction of the roller D, it is preferably covered withplush, chamois-skin, or other similar substance. hen desirous to rewindsaid film upon the roller B, said roller R is turned by the hand of theoperator, while the roller D is moved only by the action of the filmagainst it. The j ournal-bearings E E are each formed in a single piecewith the spring-plates F F, which plates are secured to the side of theinclosing-case by screws G G. The rollers Q and R are each provided witha film-retaining clasp H, which is secured thereto by screws 1, theoffice of which clasps is to engage the inner ends of the films, whichare inserted beneath them, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4:.These clasps impinge upon the ends of the films and cause them to bewound upon the rollers as the same are turned.

A further novel feature of my device consists in the mechanism forautomatically folding the doors or shutters F.

The operating mechanism consists of the links G G, lugs H H, sliding barI, provided with the friction-roller J, and the cam K. The links G arepivoted at one end to the respective doors and at their other ends tothe lugs H. The central portion (Z of the cam K is semicircular inshape, while it diverges outwardly at its respective ends, formingangular bends g. The roller J is adapted to bear against the inner edgeof the cam K. As the hood E is swung on its supporting-pivots, theroller J moves in the same circle described by the bearing-surface ofthe cam K, whereby the roller J moves across the center portion of saidcam without actuating said roller J. As soon, however, as the hood ismoved toward the right or left far enough to bring the roller J incontact with the bearing-surface 71, said slide 1 is pushed rearward,whereby motion is communicated through the links G to the shutters F,and the front edges of said shutters are drawn together and saidshutters are closed, thereby causing the light through said hood to beobstructed at each end of the movement of said hood. \Vhen, however,said hood is moved inward toward the center, said roller J is brought incontact with the bearing-surfaces of the angular bends g of said cam,whereby said slide 1 is drawn forward, when motion is communicatedthereby through said links G G to the respective shutters, and the sameare simultaneously thrown open.

Heretofore in focusing the object upon the film it has been common toproduce the required adjustment between the lens and the film throughthe medium of flexible walls or so-called bellows. By my presentimprovement this adjustment is accomplished by making the front wall I,with its supporting-lens, adjustable in its relation to the body of thecamera. The front wall I is provided with the rearward-proj ectin gflange A, which extends around the entire marginal edge of saidadjustable front, and a corresponding recess B is formed therefor in thestationary frame.

The stationary frame is provided at its respective sides withscrew-threaded supporting bearings C for the reception of the adjusting-screws E E, and the front wall I is connected with said screws Eby the arms D D, which arms are rigidly affixed at one end to saidadjustable front, and their other ends have bearings between the collarsa a, formed on said screws E, whereby as said screws E are turned inwardor outward they carry with them said adjustable front, whereby the desired focus is produced.

T is a detachable roller-case by which light is excluded from thesensitive film, which is stored and retained therein in readiness foruse preparatory to taking a picture. This case consists simply of twoend. pieces and IIO 0am, oua 0 three vertical roller-inclosing wallssecured at right angles to each other and the end pieces upon threesides of the film-supporting roller, while one side of the case isclosed (when in position for use) by the contiguous walls of thecamera-case, to which it is temporarily attached by retaining hooks orbuttons. \Vhen one film is used, the case can be removed and replacedwith another case, in which a similar sensitive film has previously beenstored. To exclude the light from the sensitive film when wound upon itsroller within said inclosing-case, the aperture L, through which saidfilm is withdrawn, is closed by the slide M. The slide M is supported inguide-bearings at its respective ends and is moved laterally across saidaperture L" by moving the slide N vertically. The lateral moving slide1T extends beneath the slide N and is provided at its respective endswith stationary pins 0, which have bearings in the angular slots P,whereby as said slide N is moved downward said slide M is drawn towardit, and said aperture L is thereby opened. IVhen, however, said slide Nis -moved upward, said slide M is, by the reversed action of said pinsin said angular slots, moved in the opposite direction, and. saidaperture L is thereby closed.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 8 the aperture L is closed by thefilm-supporting plate R", which as said film is drawn into itsreceptacle is brought in front of said aperture L, and the same isthereby closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a panoramic camera, the combination with the swinging hood locatedwithin the inclosing walls of the case, and the two flexible curtainsclosing the spaces between the re spective sides of the lens tube andthe stationary front walls of the case of the two semi-circular returnguide-ways for said ourtains communicating from the exterior to theinterior of the camera case, whereby as the respective sides of thecurtains are moved outward and forward across said space, their freeends are led rearward to the interior of said case and separate exteriorreceptacles therefor are avoided, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a panoramic camera, the combination with the film supportingroller R, of the movable friction bearing roller D, spring actuatedjournal bearings E, and journal supporting springs F, F, said roller Dbeing adapted as it is turned against said film, to unwind the same fromits supporting roller, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a panoramic camera, the combination with the camera case of apermanent roller inclosing case S and the detachable roller inclosingcase T, said detachable case T being temporarily locked to said cameracase and adapted to be withdrawn and exchanged for another,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a panoramic camera, the combination of the stationary front,rectangular walls of the camera case, movable adjustable front wall I,rearward projecting flange A", having a corresponding recess 13 formedtherefor in said stationary frame, into which it is fitted, stationaryscrew-threaded supporting bearings O affixed to said stationary frame,arms D D affixed to said adjustable front and adjusting screws E, E,provided with collars a, a adapted to bear against the respective sidesof said arms D, whereby said adj ustable front is adapted to be movedinward and outward, and adjusted by turning said adjusting screws intheir bearings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a panoramic camera, the shutter actuating mechanism consisting inthe combination with the doors or shutters F, F" hinged at their rearedges to the vertical walls of the hood of the connecting links G, G,pivotal lugs H, II, reciprocating slide I provided with the frictionroller J and the stationary cam K" having a central semi-circularbearing surface (1 corresponding in shape to the circle described by saidfriction roller, and angular outwardly diverging bearing surfaces 9, gand 71, 72, said cam being adapted by contact with said roller, toactuate said slide 1 at each end of its movement as said hood is swung,whereby said shutters are automatically Opened and closed at the desiredpoint in such swinging movement of the hood, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

6. In a panoramic camera, the combination with the protruding ends ofthe roller supported non-sensitive and sensitive films, of the verticalfilm supporting guide bars A and B, and inter-locking mechanism 0,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a panoramic camera, the combination with the roller case '1 andthe film supporting rollers of the laterally moving slide M, providedwith actuating pins 0, O, and vertical moving slide N provided with theangular bearing slots P for the reception of said pins 0, whereby assaid slide N is moved vertically, a lateral movement is communicated tosaid slide 1 and the aperture through which the film is moved to andfrom said case, is opened and closed, all substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK F. DUHKE. Witnesses:

JAs. B. ERWIN, CLARA L. RoEsoH.

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